The Third Doha Meeting: An Overview of Its Significance and Developments

Author: Amanullah Hanifi

Introduction

On June 30th and July 1st, Qatar hosted the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, attended by representatives from approximately 25 countries and five international organizations. Prior to the meeting, the United Nations, which also hosted the event, stated that the primary objective of the third Doha meeting was to integrate Afghanistan into the international community and facilitate coordination among regional and key countries for engaging with the Islamic Emirate.

During the first Doha meeting on Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate delegation was not invited. Although an invitation was extended for the second meeting, the Islamic Emirate declined to participate due to concerns regarding the agenda and composition of the meeting, deeming such gatherings without their representation as ineffective. Contrary to the first two meetings, the United Nations invited the Islamic Emirate to the third Doha meeting and accommodated their requests concerning the agenda and the nature of the meeting.

As a result, the Islamic Emirate sent a six-member delegation led by Zabihullah Mujahid to Qatar for the third Doha meeting. The delegation held discussions with representatives from several regional countries before and after the meeting. This article examines the discussions at the third Doha meeting, how the Islamic Emirate presented its stance, their demands from the international community, regional and global perspectives on Afghanistan, and the dialogues held on the sidelines with representatives of various countries.

Objective of the Third Doha Meeting

This two-day closed-door meeting on Afghanistan took place last Sunday and Monday, attended by representatives from 25 countries and five international organizations. Before the meeting, the United Nations, which hosted the event, informed the media that the primary objective of the third Doha meeting was to integrate Afghanistan into the international community and to establish coordination among regional and key countries for engaging with the Islamic Emirate. The main topics on the agenda included supporting Afghanistan's private sector, lifting financial and banking sanctions, combating drug trafficking, and offering alternative livelihoods to Afghan farmers. The meeting aimed to foster cooperation and joint efforts among the United Nations, international organizations, and significant regional countries to address these issues.

Meetings of the I.E.A Delegation on the Sidelines of the Third Doha Meeting

Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate's political office in Qatar, informed the media that the delegation met with representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Russia, China, India, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, Norway, and the Netherlands on the sidelines of the third Doha meeting. Shaheen added that these meetings focused on bilateral and multilateral issues, particularly the expansion of trade relations between Afghanistan and these countries, as well as maintaining and strengthening diplomatic relations. According to him, these countries hold constructive and positive views regarding Afghanistan.

First Day of the Meeting

The first day of the third Doha meeting began on Sunday evening with a speech by Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Ms. DiCarlo, who chaired the meeting, later tweeted that the third meeting of special envoys from key regional and international countries regarding Afghanistan had commenced productively. On the first day, Zabihullah Mujahid, the head of the Islamic Emirate delegation, also addressed the meeting. During his speech, Mujahid urged the international community to lift the sanctions imposed on Afghanistan, stating that these unilateral and multilateral sanctions create significant challenges for the Afghan people and hinder both the government and the private sector. He emphasized the need to resolve differences through diplomatic means, promoting engagement and understanding rather than confrontation. The Islamic Emirate made it clear during the meeting that sanctions and various external pressures are ineffective. Despite the sanctions, the Emirate has imposed a ban on the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of opium poppies, reducing their cultivation to nearly zero. The message conveyed was that a self-sufficient Afghanistan benefits the entire region and the world, necessitating genuine and positive engagement with the Islamic Emirate. The frozen assets of Afghanistan by the United States should be released, developmental aid and cooperation should increase, and the current government and nation should be allowed to utilize all their capacities without restrictions for a stable Afghanistan. During his address, Mujahid highlighted the Islamic Emirate's efforts to expand relations with regional countries, demonstrating Afghanistan's capacity and willingness to enhance diplomatic ties. He urged Western nations to follow the example of regional countries and engage in realistic and practical interactions with the Afghan government, removing obstacles to the development of relations and fostering positive engagement. At the end of the first day, Zabihullah Mujahid spoke to the media in Doha, stating that representatives from all participating countries pledged their cooperation with Afghanistan and that their perceptions of the country had shifted positively. They assured that they would not support any military opposition against the Islamic Emirate, marking a significant achievement in altering international perspectives.

Second Day of the Meeting

The second day of the meeting commenced with the presence of all participants. On this day, the delegation of the Islamic Emirate presented two separate presentations. The first presentation, delivered by representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Da Afghanistan Bank, focused on supporting the private sector. The second presentation, delivered by representatives from the Ministry of Interior, concentrated on combating narcotics and providing alternative livelihoods. During the discussions on the second day, the Islamic Emirate clearly conveyed its messages to all participants, informing them of the progress and tangible realities in Afghanistan. This was a significant opportunity for the Islamic Emirate to change the world's perception of Afghanistan, which they utilized effectively. The Islamic Emirate called for international cooperation in supporting the private sector, combating narcotics, and offering alternative livelihoods, receiving commitments from several countries in these areas. The second day concluded successfully, with participants expressing satisfaction and recognizing the value of this opportunity to enhance interactions with Afghanistan. Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who chaired the meeting, stated in the concluding press conference her optimism that the discussions and engagements with the Islamic Emirate would lead to progress in various fields.

Conclusion

The third Doha meeting was a significant opportunity to improve global engagement with Afghanistan and to present the country's true image to the world. Through this meeting, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan directly communicated its messages to the international community, informing them of the progress made within the country. Additionally, cooperation was sought in various areas, receiving commitments from the participants. For the first time, representatives of the Islamic Emirate and the United Nations engaged in detailed face-to-face discussions about Afghanistan's situation. This paves the way for future bilateral interactions and discussions, benefiting both parties. The meeting provided reassurance to the UN and the international community regarding many of their concerns about Afghanistan. It was clarified that Afghanistan now has a strong, independent central government that poses no threat to other nations. Throughout the meeting, the international community was convinced that sanctions are not a solution. Issues should be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic channels, with collaborative efforts to address existing challenges. Many countries supported Afghanistan's stance, which is another achievement in attracting global attention to Afghanistan's situation. On the sidelines of the meeting, the delegation met with representatives from several countries, who expressed their willingness to maintain diplomatic relations and engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various fields.